How many days do you need in Sydney, Cairns, Uluru & Melbourne?
- Most travelers spend 10-14 days in Sydney, Cairns, Uluru, and Melbourne combined
- Visiting Sydney, Cairns, Uluru, and Melbourne in 9 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 15 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Adelaide and Darwin
How Many Days to Spend in Sydney
Recommended Itineraries for Sydney, Cairns, Uluru & Melbourne
Recommended Itinerary for 10 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Day 2 | Day Tour of Phillip Island & Penguin Parade | Melbourne |
| Day 3 | Day Trip Along the Great Ocean Road | Melbourne |
| Day 4 | Fly to Uluru, Tour Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park | Uluru |
| Day 5 | Explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Fly to Cairns | Cairns |
| Day 6 | Day Trip to Green Island | Cairns |
| Day 7 | Day Trip to Kuranda | Cairns |
| Day 8 | Fly to Sydney, City Sights Tour | Sydney |
| Day 9 | Day Trip to Blue Mountains National Park | Sydney |
| Day 10 | Depart Sydney |
Cover the highlights on this 10-day tour that perfectly combines urban exploration with outdoor excursions starting in the cultural capital of Melbourne—a great jumping-off point to explore nearby Phillip Island and the Great Ocean Road. Venture into the "Red Center" to visit the iconic Ayers Rock before flying out to tropical Cairns to cuddle with a koala and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. End your stay with a Sydney city tour and a day trip to Blue Mountains National Park. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 13 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Melbourne, Optional Activities | Melbourne |
| Day 2 | Great Ocean Road Trip | Melbourne |
| Day 3 | Phillip Island Tour & Penguin Parade | Melbourne |
| Day 4 | Melbourne Laneways & City Tour | Melbourne |
| Day 5 | Fly to Uluru | Uluru |
| Day 6 | Sunrise Tour of Uluru, Kata Tjuta Hike, Field of Light Dinner | Uluru |
| Day 7 | Fly to Cairns, Optional Activities | Cairns |
| Day 8 | Kuranda Rainforest Tour | Cairns |
| Day 9 | Outer Barrier Reef Cruise | Cairns |
| Day 10 | Fly to Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 11 | Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach & Taronga Zoo Tour | Sydney |
| Day 12 | Day Trip to the Blue Mountains | Sydney |
| Day 13 | Depart Sydney |
This 13-day adventure kicks off in Melbourne, which has officially been christened as the cultural capital of Australia. Discover the city's bohemian laneways and take road trips down the scenic Great Ocean Road before heading north to the outback for a sunrise tour of Uluru (Ayers Rock), a sacred site to the First Nations people. Continue to tropical Queensland to venture to the outskirts of the Great Barrier Reef, then finish the tour in stylish Sydney with guided excursions of its iconic city sights. Read more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Extended Itineraries
16-Day Itinerary Including Adelaide & Darwin
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Day 2 | Melbourne Sightseeing | Melbourne |
| Day 3 | Melbourne Free Day | Melbourne |
| Day 4 | Fly to Adelaide, Explore | Adelaide |
| Day 5 | Day Trip to Kangaroo Island | Adelaide |
| Day 6 | Fly to Uluru, Explore | Uluru |
| Day 7 | Free Day in Uluru | Cairns |
| Day 8 | Fly to Darwin, Explore | Darwin |
| Day 9 | Kakadu National Park | Darwin |
| Day 10 | Fly to Cairns, Explore | Cairns |
| Day 11 | The Great Barrier Reef | Cairns |
| Day 12 | Cairns Free Day | Cairns |
| Day 13 | Fly to Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 14 | Sydney City Sights | Sydney |
| Day 15 | Free Day in Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 16 | Depart Sydney |
This well-rounded 16-day tour of Australia's highlights is sure to delight any first-time visitor. You'll explore the hidden laneways of artsy Melbourne and the famous landmarks of Sydney, learn about Indigenous culture at Uluru in the country's Red Center, and discover tropical Queensland with an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, you'll meet kangaroos at Kangaroo Island, search for crocodiles at Kakadu National Park, and have free time to enjoy a few day trips of your choosing. Read more
How to travel between Sydney, Cairns, Uluru & Melbourne
How to get from Sydney to Cairns
Sydney and Cairns are both on Australia's east coast, but Sydney is about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) south of the tropical northern Queensland city. Here's how to get from Sydney to Cairns. Read more
How to get to Uluru
Uluru is right in the center of Australia, in the southwestern corner of the Northern Territory, and is a long way from pretty much everywhere. The nearest town is Alice Springs, and that's still more than 200 miles (330 km) away. But Uluru is also one of Australia's most popular tourist attractions, so it's quite easy to get to from elsewhere in Australia. Here's what you need to know about getting to Uluru. Read more
How to get from Sydney to Melbourne
Australia's two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, look quite close together on the map, both being in the southeast of the huge country. But there are still 545 miles (877 km) between them. Here's how to get from Sydney to Melbourne. Read more
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